Under Mark McCall this season, Saracens have reached the Heineken Cup final and are the current Premiership leaders. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Saracens' Mark McCall, Leicester's Richard Cockerill and Sale's Steve Diamond have been shortlisted for the Premiership rugby director of the season award. The winner will be announced at an awards dinner in London on 15 May.

McCall has masterminded Saracens' push for a domestic and European double, with a first Heineken Cup final place secured in Saturday's stunning 46-6 demolition of Clermont Auvergne, while Saracens are also the Premiership leaders.

Leicester and Sale, meanwhile, have joined Saracens in qualifying for next season's inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup, with the Tigers and Sale also having Premiership title aspirations via the play-offs. McCall and Cockerill are previous winners of the rugby director award.

"All three on the shortlist were presented with their own different challenges, and have led their clubs into next season's European Rugby Champions Cup," Premiership Rugby's director of rugby Phil Winstanley said.